Jack Canfield of 'Chicken Soup For The Soul' and 'The Secret'

I'm delighted to introduce my very special guest, Jack Canfield, co-author of Chicken Soup For The Soul and star of the hit movie The Secret.

Jack just celebrated his 66th birthday yesterday and I had the great pleasure of having lunch with him way back in 1992.

This was the year BEFORE his book 'Chicken Soup For The Soul' came out on the market, and we had met at a CEO Space convention in Los Angeles.

Jack was already fairly well-known, but nobody at that time -- probably not even Jack himself -- had a clue as to how high he was going to fly!

I remember being impressed with how friendly and unpretentious Jack was to be around. I had flown a long way from my home in Anchorage, Alaska and was taking quite a risk financially and otherwise just to be there, so his comforting nature was especially appreciated.

Jack was in the process of funding his new venture, and I was a top producer in the insurance world preparing for something bigger and better that I knew was coming my way.

Back in those days I knew nothing about Numerology but had always been interested in the metaphysical realm. When I did finally take my first steps in this new direction years later, I attempted to obtain Jack's birth data so I could study his chart, but my efforts proved fruitless. All I could get was the month and date of his birth -- the rest remained a mystery. However, my 'luck' started to change after watching The Secret.

I founded Soulmate Connections, a virtual singles community based on matching people up with the help of Numerology, and now had a whole new reason to connect with Jack. I had decided to feature the Numerology reports of the stars in The Secret on my forum.

One idea led to another, and finally Jack's assistant gave me all the information I needed. I later sent Jack's report to her, requesting his permission to post it online, and also attached a new color-coded version I had created of the transcript of his appearance on Larry King Live.

Weeks went by with no reply and I had completely surrendered any attachment to the results. Then, as if by magic -- almost two months after last corresponding with Jack's office -- a very special email appeared in my inbox.

Jack not only gave me permission to post his report, but also asked me to send him a Numerology report on his wife. In addition, he asked me to send the link to my forum when his report went live so he could post it on his website.

Now that's my definition of a great day! And one I will long remember.

So enjoy reading the inside scoop on this amazing man!

[And Jack, I want to thank you again for being such a bright light in this world and for your willingness to share this rather intimate side of yourself with my friends. Your analogy in The Secret about driving through the dark, able to see only 200 feet ahead of ourselves (and still 'making it to NY'), has helped me get through many a dark moment. You are so very loved and appreciated!]

If ever there was a moment of total transformation, it was the moment of your birth. In that instant, you stepped through a door in time into a new reality -- the reality of human life. The most important number in your numerology chart is based on the date of your birth, the moment when the curtain goes up in your life.

Your Life Path is 18/9

Jack, you are the philanthropist, humanitarian, socially conscious, and are deeply concerned about the state of the world. You have great compassion and idealism. You are a utopian, and will spend your life trying to realize some aspect of your utopian dream, sacrificing money, time, and energy for a better world. It is in giving that you will find much satisfaction.

You have a broad outlook on life. You tend to see the big picture, rather than the minute details. You naturally attract people from all walks of life who can fit into your larger plans and take over the areas you find uninteresting. The person with a 9 Life Path is rarely prejudiced or accepts social biases of people. Instead, they evaluate people on the basis of what they can do for the larger cause. They are the true egalitarian.

Jack, you are imaginative and creative, especially at harmoniously arranging the beauty already potential in the environment. These abilities can lead you into such fields as interior decorating, landscape art, and photography. But because of your strong social consciousness, you can be an effective politician, lawyer, judge, minister, teacher, healer, and environmentalist. Vocations that require self-sacrifice and have a clear social impact are common among 9s.

You are often disappointed by the realities of life: the shortcomings of others, or of yourself. Somehow, you don't want to accept the imperfections of the world, a feeling that drives you constantly to try to improve upon it. But rather than be satisfied with your efforts, and those of others, you relentlessly push on, striving for greater accomplishments.

You are often unsatisfied with the results. In short, you lack the perspective that would otherwise make it possible for you to enjoy life more fully, and accept its natural limitations. You have a controlled enthusiasm and the ability to finish what you start.

A key to your personality is the necessity of sacrifice. You have to learn to let go of material possessions and relationships, the inherent lesson being that holding on too tightly to anything causes pain.

Money comes to you through mysterious or unexpected ways: inheritance; the benevolence of someone who was inspired by your work; or a lucky investment. Conversely, if you pursue money for its own sake, after giving up on your larger dreams, you're likely to find yourself empty handed.

The most successful and satisfying road for a nine is giving; sharing and sacrificing for a larger goal, without expecting anything in return.

Jack, your greatest chance at success is to tie your personal fortunes to an endeavor that makes the world a better place for others. Very often, this turns into a highly successful and lucrative enterprise, providing amply for you and your family. Your life rests on the axiom that the more you give, the bigger your reward.

You are romantic, but your love is more impersonal. You tend to be focused on your dreams. When you are not in harmony with your true nature, you can fall to moodiness, or become aloof, and withdrawn. You can become timid, uncertain, and ungrateful, putting the blame for your troubles on others or the world.

You have a gift for examining your life objectively, and at some distance. Be honest with yourself. By openly facing your shortcomings, as well as your strengths, you develop equilibrium. You are thus able to love and better understand yourself and all of life.

BIRTHDAY

The day you were born bears great significance in understanding who you are and where your talents lie. The day of birth indicates some special talent you possess. It is a gift to you that will help you along your Life's Path. Your day of birth is one of your four core numbers -- the Life Path, Expression, and Heart's Desire being the other three. It is the least significant of the four core numbers, but perhaps the most finite, in that it reveals a specific ability you possess in a marked degree.

Your Birthday is 19/1

Jack, you are highly determined and yearn for independence. You tend to struggle to achieve the degree of self-sufficiency you desire, and may endure considerable frustration in your struggle for independence. The reason: your desire for independence is so strong is that it eclipses so many other balancing perspectives. As the poet John Donne said: 'No man is an Island unto himself...we are all bits of the main.' This is a central lesson in your life: to learn the difference between the dream of independence and the reality of interdependence.

Your challenge is to achieve a wider degree of perspective on yourself and others. Exchange ideas with others, lest you become insulated and isolated by your own perspective. This can become a kind of prison for you.

You can be highly stubborn, which emanates from fear. Try to see that all of life is but an ecosystem, a life cycle delicately balanced in such a way that everyone is supporting.

Jack, you are highly ambitious and have a strong drive for success and power. Although self confident, you like to be encouraged. You are a hard worker and an important fixture in any enterprise in which you are involved. People are attracted to your deep commitment to your work, and the steadiness with which you do it.

You are a pioneer at heart; you are willing to take risks to get what you desire. As such, you are willing to change your environment often, and even enjoy doing so. You are demonstrative in your affections and willing to sacrifice for others. You are highly idealistic, but if your ideals fail, you can become bitter and negative.

You are very sensitive, with many emotional ups and downs. Jack, you tend to find yourself in dramatic situations, yet you like to control your emotions in public and come off as if everything is under control. With your determination and inventive and creative mind you have potential for achievement and financial reward!

EXPRESSION

Your Expression number reveals your physical and mental constitution, the orientation or goal of your life. Some numerologists refer to this number as the Destiny, because it represents a lifelong target at which you are aiming. You work at fulfilling this potential every day of your life. Thus, the Expression number reveals your inner goal, the person you aim to be.

The Expression is your being; the Life Path is the major lesson you are attempting to learn this time around. Time allows the gradual emergence of your personality. By reading the Expression number below, you will come to understand your basic nature and the abilities and issues inherent in your being.

Your Expression is 12/3

Jack, you are optimistic, inspiring, outgoing, and expressive. People see you as cheerful, positive and charming; your personality has a certain bounce and verve that so powerfully affects others that you can inspire people without effort.

All of this upward energy is a symptom of your tremendous creativity. Your verbal skills may well lead you into the fields of writing, comedy, theater, and music. Yours is the number of self-expression -- rich in imagination and spirit, but you have to be careful not to scatter your talents. Your bane is that you often lack discipline and order in your life. Avoid becoming a 'happy- go-lucky' spendthrift, escaping responsibility and commitment.

You must learn to concentrate and focus. These are the keys to your success. You have great potential in the arts and areas that requires creative solutions to problems. You are able to perform leaps of imagination, providing unconventional ideas as if they suddenly descended from above. Hard work and focus, however, are the foundation for a successful future.

Though you possess great verbal skills, your mind tends to see life as pictures rather than in words. Yet, you have the ability to think abstractly. Creativity is a sensitive faculty that is often suppressed in childhood. If you lack the confidence to pursue your ideas, you may divert your abilities into a scattering of trivial pursuits.

To overcome this problem, you must make a choice. Jack, you have to limit your field of vision and the number of activities you engage in, and bundle your energies into a single thrust. Focus your life; choose the area that you love the most, and commit. There, you will find success and a great deal of happiness.

Love, romance, and money are within your reach. You are aided by your friends and admirers. Often people appear out of nowhere to help you in key situations. Jack, you have to learn to accept the involvement of others in your life. You are not a loner, nor are you particularly independent. You are social. You need an audience and the support of others to fully realize your abilities.

On the down-side, you can be superficial, moody, and intolerant. You are emotional and sensitive, sometimes presuming criticism where none was intended. You can also be jealous and gossipy. Beware of becoming cynical and sarcastic. These traits can suppress your natural creativity.

Be goal-oriented. This is a practical, step-by-step approach to your larger ambitions. You possess the natural abilities to attain a high degree of excellence.

HEART'S DESIRE

Your Heart's Desire is the inner you. It shows your underlying urge, your true motivation. It reveals the general intention behind many of your actions. Consequently, it dramatically influences the choices you make in life. The Heart's Desire demonstrates the identity of the soul that joined the earth -- you, the spiritual being.

Your Heart's Desire is 19/1

Jack, your overpowering need is to be independent and to direct your own life according to what you believe. Your dream is to become the leader of whatever field you enter. Whether it is in business, community, or in your general area of expertise, you are driven to be the reigning figure.

You have the courage and the confidence to lead others. You believe firmly that your judgment is preeminent over all others. This gives you the confidence to make bold decisions and carry them out, even when other lives are greatly affected by what you do. You rarely look back once you have made a decision.

You possess intelligence and wit. You are keenly insightful and are good at evaluating the abilities of others. You are supremely individualistic. In your manner and dress, you like to project your own unique persona. Consequently, you don't mind being controversial, and can even enjoy the attention and impact you have made on your surroundings.

Jack, you dislike routines, or anything that limits your freedom and independence. Whenever you commit to something you truly love, you are absolutely tenacious in your ability to endure difficulties and overcome obstacles. You are highly responsible; you hate passing the buck. You possess remarkable willpower and a strong drive to succeed. You are always looking for innovative ways of doing things.

Because you seek to be the boss in any endeavor, you have a tendency to dominate others. If you are not careful, especially in dealing with your subordinates and family, you may become ruthless in your decisions and behavior. You can also fall victim to impatience and intolerance, particularly if you grow conceited or superior.

Jack, you are the pioneer and the ground-breaker. You love the foreground, the hot-seat of responsibility. You have all the talents to succeed. As long as you maintain balance in your life, allowing others full expression of their thoughts and abilities, you will easily rise to the top of your chosen field and realize your ambitions.

PERSONALITY

Your Personality number is derived from the consonants of your full name at birth. Your Personality is like a narrow entrance hall to the great room that is your true nature. It is those aspects that you feel comfortable sharing with people at the outset of a relationship. With time and trust, you invite others into the deeper aspects of your nature; you reveal more of who you really are, in effect, your Heart's Desire, Expression, and so on. Your Personality number also indicates how others perceive you.

Your Personality is 11

Jack, you appear friendly and unpretentious. You have a soft and warm exterior. Others perceive you as gentle, safe harbor. People are drawn to you because, among other reasons, you appear warm and non-threatening.

Your dress is neat and clean. Jack, your clothing should be comfortable, soft, and flowing. You should avoid plain and understated clothes. Make an effort to be a little more daring and exciting in your appearance.

This will balance nicely with your perceptive and open personality. The opposite sex is attracted to your gentle and attentive nature, yet senses the passion beneath your surface. You have sex appeal. Exercise is important to your appearance and to promote the level of strength you radiate.

You are very patient and understanding, and a wonderful listener. You make others feel important and loved. You are sensitive and become tense in a disharmonious atmosphere. You have experienced quite a bit of negative criticism as a child, which made you shy growing up. Though you may be well past that shyness, a bit of the vulnerability has remained with you and is often sensed by others.

Jack, you are a peacemaker. Arguments leave you drained. People sense your desire for harmony. But you must avoid being the blank tablet for others' projections. People may underestimate your strength, but this is a mistake. You are strong. You bend, but don't break.

You have a fine sense of beauty and excellent taste. There is a grace in your movements, reflecting your keen sense of harmony and refinement.

MATURITY

Your Maturity number indicates an underlying wish or desire that gradually surfaces around age thirty to thirty-five. This underlying goal begins to emerge as you gain a better understanding of yourself. With self-knowledge comes a greater awareness of who you are, what your true goals in life are, and what direction you want to set for your life. This, in a nutshell, is the gift of maturity: You no longer waste time and energy on things that are not within your own special identity. The influence of the number increases steadily as you grow older.

Your Maturity is 12/3

As you mature, Jack, you will find yourself becoming increasingly extroverted and optimistic about your future. Your self-expression and creativity improve markedly. You may become inspired to take up some type of artistic endeavor, such as writing, acting, or music, if you are not already involved in one of these areas.

Your ability to communicate will substantially improve. You are naturally more fluent and may find yourself dressing with a certain flair. Be careful not to fall victim to superficial appearances, or chasing after glamour and extravagance.

The 3 Maturity Number is a blessing in the latter part of life. Your attitude will be increasingly positive and your popularity will rise. It promises enjoyment, close friendships, and much happiness.

PINNACLES

The Pinnacles are four long-term cycles, or periods, on our Life Path. Each Pinnacle represents a particular lesson we are working on. The first Pinnacle usually lasts from birth to between the ages of 30 and 35 (your specific Pinnacle periods are provided below). The middle two Pinnacles each last nine years. The last Pinnacle will stay with you for the remainder of your life.

Your Fourth Pinnacle (from age 46) is 8

[Note: 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' was copyrighted when Jack was 48.]

Jack, under the influences of this Pinnacle, you will have greatly enhanced talent for dealing successfully with business and finances. This is a time of material growth, a time of expansion and reward. It is the cycle of harvest.

The 8 Pinnacle also increases your personal power. You have sound judgment and vision. In fact, this is the basis of your financial success. People sense your power and effectiveness. They defer to you much more easily, and look to you for answers. This makes it easier for you to use power without having to be a bully or force your way through situations. They perceive your able ness and want to join you in your vision. Others have faith in you.

You will be able to organize large enterprises. Problems do not threaten you so much as provide a challenge. You yourself sense your enhanced personal powers and feel a growing sense of stability and centeredness. You will be capable of influencing matter in an almost magical way. As a result, you are extremely goal oriented, moving toward the realization of your dreams with confidence and clarity.

Jack, your challenge during this period is to maintain a hold on your human and spiritual values. You must remain balanced between heaven and earth. There will be enormous temptations to make money and status your only priorities, excluding the more human or immaterial matters entirely. This will undoubtedly lead to losses. You are being tested and instructed in the real value of money -- it's natural place in life. If money is placed on a high altar, overshadowing all other facets of life, you will become its slave.

If you are balanced in your approach to money, and have proper perspective, this can be a truly rewarding period, both materially and spiritually. That is the true promise of the 8. The number 8 symbolizes the balance between the finite and infinite, matter and spirit. It offers a great opportunity to grow.

CYCLES

Like most stories, there are three great divisions of our lives: the First, or opening period, finds us groping to find our true nature; at the same time, we are trying to cope with the powerful forces that are present in our environment, our parents and the socio-economic conditions of our family, for example.

The Second Cycle, or middle period of our lives, brings about the slow emergence of our individual and creative talents. The initial part of this cycle -- the early and mid 30s -- represents a struggle to find our place in the world, while the late 30s, 40s, and early 50s, sees us with a greater degree of self-mastery and influence over the environment.

The Third, or final Cycle, can represent a flowering of our inner being, such that our true nature has finally come to fruition. It is during this period that one has the greatest degree of self-expression and power.

Your Third and last Cycle (from age 55) is 9

[Note: Jack is in this Cycle now, and will be for the rest of his life.]

This is a period in which a broad view of humanity and a sincere concern for the well being of others will be developed. Tolerance, acceptance, and universal love are the goals of this 9 Cycle, and while such perfection will not be fully achieved, the person under this influence will grow toward these ideals.

Humanitarian principles and social service are the keys to personal happiness. All work directed toward the improvement of the general welfare will bring great personal rewards, as well. Hard work directed toward higher ideals is rewarded.

Creative talent is also enhanced, especially when it is joined with some larger social purpose or message. There is an element of sacrifice or letting go, as one is asked to forgive past grievances and let go of negative attachments. The person is being asked to live according to a higher ethical standard, with much spiritual and personal enrichment as his reward.